You immediately notice when your internet is too slow: your video stutters, a download takes a long time, or your video call drops. But what does fast internet actually mean? And how fast is fiber compared to other types of internet? We asked Jeroen Dangremond, Manager Customer Operations at Open Dutch Fiber. He sees daily how important speed is for modern households.
What is fast internet?
Fast internet means that your connection can handle all your activities without interruptions. Think streaming, video calling, gaming, or working from home. Jeroen sees that we use many more devices at home simultaneously than we used to: “In the 2010s, you had one device using the internet.
Now you have a phone, iPad, TV, computer, and all kinds of smart devices on at the same time.” Because so many devices are online simultaneously, households need more speed. Fiber can easily handle that growth.
How fast is fiber internet?
Fiber is known as very fast internet. This is because data is sent via light, which allows large amounts of information to pass through the cable simultaneously. Jeroen explains how large that capacity is: “We have created a completely empty highway where you can drive as fast as you want.”
How fast your connection becomes depends on the package your provider offers. Popular speeds are:
● 100 Mbit: suitable for a small household that mainly streams, surfs, and occasionally has video calls;
● 200 Mbit: great for a family where several people are online simultaneously;
● 1 Gbit (1000 Mbit): handy if you work with many devices, often download, or send large files;
● even higher speeds: mainly needed if you use a lot of data or for future use.
With fiber, the network allows these speeds effortlessly. As a result, it is one of the fastest and most stable forms of internet for home use.
How fast is my internet? Download and upload explained
Your internet speed consists of two parts: download and upload.
● Download is the speed at which information comes to your device. Think about loading a website, watching a video, or downloading a file.
● Upload is the speed at which you send information. This happens, for example, when you upload a photo, video conference, or share a document.
With fiber, download and upload are usually equally fast. This is called symmetric internet, which ensures a stable connection. Jeroen especially sees how important this is during video calls: “You need to be able to see others well, and they need to see you clearly. For that, you need good upload and download speeds.”
With cable and DSL, the upload speed is often much lower. This makes you notice delays more quickly when sending files, collaborating in the cloud, or having video calls.
Want to know how fast your internet is now? Many providers have a speed test on their website.
What determines how much internet speed you need?
The right internet speed mainly depends on what happens in your household. Do you use the internet with one person or with an entire family? And what do you mainly do with it?
With light use, such as emailing and occasional streaming, you need less speed than with intensive use. Think of multiple people simultaneously video calling, gaming, or watching series in high quality. Smart devices, such as cameras or speakers, also continuously use the internet.
Jeroen clearly sees that development: “Households are using more devices simultaneously. That requires a network that can handle it.” Fiberoffers enough space for that, even if your internet usage further grows in the future.
Also read the article: Compare fiber by household: which speed suits your situation?
Why is fiber faster than cable and DSL
Not every network can handle the same speed. Cable and DSL use copper, and copper has a hard limit. As Jeroen puts it: “With that copper cable, you're eventually squeezed out. You cannot stretch that cable further than this.”
Fiber does not have that problem. The network remains stable, even when many people are online simultaneously. Therefore, fiber is often the fastest internet you can get.
Which provider has the fastest internet?
The speed you ultimately get depends on your provider. ODF provides the network, but the provider determines the packages and speeds available. Jeroen explains it this way: “The provider determines the speed. We just have the highway they can drive on.”
Want to know which provider offers the highest speed at your address? On the provider page from ODF, you can easily compare.
Also read the article: Switching to fiber: how does it work and when is the switch smart?
View your options for fiber internet
Each provider offers different speeds, packages, and prices. Therefore, it's useful to see exactly which providers can connect your home. On our provider page you get a clear overview of all providers at your address in a few seconds. Then you can calmly compare and choose which package best suits your household and internet usage.
About Jeroen Dangremond
Manager Customer Operations
This article was written in collaboration with Jeroen Dangremond. Jeroen is the customer operations manager at Open Dutch Fiber. He ensures that the connection of homes runs smoothly, with minimal inconvenience to residents. His goal: a quick and careful installation of fiber, so that everyone can enjoy a seamless online experience.
Also check out these articles!
Is fiber better? The difference between fiber and cable internet
Imagine this: you are watching an exciting movie in HD, while someone else is having a video call and the kids are gaming. Everything works perfectly, without any interruptions. That's the difference that fiber optic can make! But how does it work exactly? Bas Meeuwissen, Passive Infrastructure Architect at Open Dutch Fiber, explains the main differences between fiber optic and cable internet and which technology suits your situation best.
